“We heard a drumming alarm and we came to see. We found ‘locusts’ had surrounded the area. One member of the community gave us an insecticide to spray them, we tried selamectin but they were just docile. Then, later on, one member came in with petrol and we had to burn them. You see with petrol, we succeeded because they [insects] were in a group. But now a question comes if they land in the whole garden, how will you burn? It is only one village so far Kabukutu village because it was our first time to see such. They are interested in only green plants.” said Luswete. Â
Our reporter witnessed slight damages the insects have caused to the plantations, as seen in the deep holes poked in the leaves. Fulgencio Kiyimba, one of the farmers whose pineapple plantation has been attacked says he is worried that the insects may evolve into more disastrous pests that may devastate crops in the agricultural-based region.
Buwunga sub-county chairperson Francis Kimuli has appealed to the ministry of Agriculture to make thorough studies on the pests and find a reliable response. He fears that if left to freely multiply in the gardens, the insects could threaten food security in the area.
However, Masaka district production officer, Dr Lawrence Mayiga, indicated that entomologists in the region have ascertained that although strange in outward appearance, the insects are not the desert locusts that invaded parts of Kenya.
He explains that they picked samples of the insects for further expert analysis with teams from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which will lead them to possible solutions. Mayiga has asked the farmers to patiently wait for the process that has started off. Government recently set aside Shs 15 billion to combat the expected locust invasion.Â